If you’ve ever strolled into a local smoke shop, farmers’ market, or maybe even a gas station in the United States, you’ve likely come across Kratom – the talk of the town. Given its widespread availability, you may have wondered whether this botanical herb really provides its purported benefits. I mean, is kratom the real deal? Is it even on the right side of the law? Plus, is there an age limit for getting your hands on this intriguing plant.
Is it legal to buy kratom products across the USA? The answer to your question highly depends on the location.
Kratom is illegal at the federal level – some states have banned it and others are thinking about banning it. A few states in the US have set their own limits on buying and having kratom. That’s why it is important to know about the age limits in your area. Also, as state regulations are subject to change, it’s smart to check recent updates and news from your state.
Supernatural Botanicals strives to provide the most up-to-date information possible about kratom laws in the US. Take a quick scroll down, find your state, and make sure you’re good to go for buying kratom.
A Quick Glance At Mitragyna Speciosa.
You’ve probably heard about kratom. It’s this fascinating tree called Mitragyna speciosa that grows in Southeast Asia. Its leaves are packed with some intriguing chemicals known as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. The tropical regions of Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia are the natural habitats of this evergreen plant.
Historically, kratom was consumed by chewing the leaves, but nowadays, you can get your hands on various forms, from powders and extracts to capsules.
Kratom has the potential to enhance one’s sense of well-being. Kratom’s two primary components, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, are thought to produce muscle-relaxing effects at larger dosages and an energetic boost at lower amounts.
Is Kratom Legal On A Federal Level?
Kratom has technically been authorized in the US, but the real issue is to what degree. At the federal level, kratom is legal. Although it is unregulated, the law is unlikely to see the supplement as legal. There isn’t any federal legislation currently in effect. Therefore, regardless of age, everyone gets to buy kratom.
After 91 deaths from overdoses were recorded, the DEA attempted to categorize kratom as a schedule 1 drug in 2016, claiming that it was a safer alternative to drugs. Due to the outrage of both the scientific community and the general public, key issues were brought up. Later, the DEA was stunned because the evidence indicated that the deaths weren’t entirely related to kratom.
While Kratom users were upset about being found convicted of possessing a controlled substance, researchers were enraged about being allowed to investigate kratom and come up with real results rather than just hypotheses.
Drugs that are classified as Schedule 1 have no medical use whatsoever. This prevents researchers from studying Schedule 1 drugs to discover their medicinal effects. The researchers also pointed out that the DEA’s death statistics were biased. All 91 people whose deaths were linked to an overdose of kratom also had at least one other drug known to be lethal in their systems. Therefore, it was misleading to attribute kratom as the predominant cause of mortality in these incidents.
The DEA has effectively given up on these attempts, leaving kratom legislation to the various levels of local government.
What is the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA)?
Let’s have a look at the Kratom Protection Consumer Act (KCPA) before we investigate the legality of kratom and any age limitations in each individual state.
In order to ensure that customers have safe and legal access to kratom, the American Kratom Association (AKA) has introduced a bill known as the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA).
The KCPA includes the following aspects:
- Obligate lab testing and proper labeling of all kratom products.
- Minimize the risk of selling contaminated or adulterated kratom.
- Enforce penalties for the following the rules
How Old Do You Have To Be To Buy Kratom Legally?
The legal age to purchase kratom varies from state to state. In some places, they don’t really specify any age requirement for buying kratom. But in other states, they make it a rule that you’ve got to be at least 18 years old to get your hands on it. So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag depending on where you live.
We’ve got a list of states for you, all nicely arranged in alphabetical order. Each state comes with some useful info: Current Legal Status, Minimum Purchasing Age, and Pending Legislation.
1. Alabama:
Legal Status: Illegal (Schedule 1 controlled substance)
Minimum Purchasing Age: N/A
Pending Legislation: None
2. Alaska:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
3. Arizona:
Legal Status: Passed the KCPA in 2019.
Minimum Purchasing Age: 18
Pending Legislation: None
4. Arkansas:
Legal Status: Illegal (Schedule 1 controlled substance)
Minimum Purchasing Age: N/A
Pending Legislation: None
5. California:
Legal Status: Legal but banned in Oceanside and San Diego
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
6. Colorado:
Legal Status: Legal but banned in Monument and Parker. Labeled “not for human consumption” in Denver.
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
7. Connecticut:
Legal Status: Legal
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
8. Delaware:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
9. Florida:
Legal Status: Legal but banned in Sarasota County
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
10. Georgia:
Legal Status: Passed the KCPA in 2019.
Minimum Purchasing Age: 18
Pending Legislation: None
11. Hawaii:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
12. Idaho:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
13. Illinois:
Legal Status: Legal but banned in Jerseyville and Alton
Minimum Purchasing Age: 18
Pending Legislation: None
14. Indiana:
Legal Status: Illegal (Schedule 1 controlled substance)
Minimum Purchasing Age: N/A
Pending Legislation: None
15. Iowa:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: Tried to pass the bill in 2014 to ban kratom
16. Kansas:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: Tried to pass the bill to ban kratom
17. Kentucky:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: Tried to pass the bill to ban kratom
18. Louisiana:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: Tried to pass the bill on the house floor to ban kratom
19. Maine:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: Tried to pass the bill to ban kratom unsuccessfully
20. Maryland:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
21. Massachusetts:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
22. Michigan:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: Failed to pass the bill on banning kratom
23. Minnesota:
Legal Status: Legal with some regulations
Minimum Purchasing Age: 18
Pending Legislation: None
24. Mississippi:
Legal Status: Legal but banned in the city of Columbus and Union County
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: Failed to pass the bill on banning kratom
25. Missouri:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
26. Montana:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
27. Nebraska:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
28. Nevada:
Legal Status: Passed the KCPA in 2019.
Minimum Purchasing Age: 18
Pending Legislation: None
29. New York:
Legal Status: Legal with some regulations
Minimum Purchasing Age: 18
Pending Legislation: An active bill was submitted in the state senate to make kratom illegal.
30. North Carolina:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
31. Oklahoma:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: KCPA under consideration
32. Pennsylvania:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
33. South Carolina:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: 18
Pending Legislation: None
34. Texas:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
35. Utah:
Legal Status: Passed the KCPA in 2019.
Minimum Purchasing Age: 18
Pending Legislation: None
36. Vermont:
Legal Status: Illegal (Schedule 1 controlled substance)
Minimum Purchasing Age: N/A
Pending Legislation: None
37. Washington:
Legal Status: Legal but not regulated
Minimum Purchasing Age: No age restrictions
Pending Legislation: None
States That May Soon Ban Kratom:
In the following counties, kratom is illegal:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Rhode Island.
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
Several bills are working to make kratom illegal to purchase or possess kratom. Although it might take some time for any of these states to outlaw kratom in the future, here is a list:
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Virginia
States That May Lift Ban On Kratom:
Currently, kratom is illegal in the following states, however this may change in the near future:
- Indiana
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
Where Can You Buy Kratom?
Supernatural Botanicals is the place to go if you’re seeking for a supplier of high-quality kratom that adheres to all of the relevant industry standards. We stock and send Mitragyna Speciosa powders, extracts, and capsules to all legal states.
Final Thoughts:
What is the legal age to purchase kratom? Your own state’s laws are the ultimate authority on this matter. To protect children, different minimum ages are enforced in different parts of the United States.
Before trying to purchase or use kratom, you should research the legal status and age restrictions in your state.
Jennifer Kurtz is a founder of KratomGuides.com and studied medicine at the New Jersey School of Medicine (Rutgers). She is passionate about developing her knowledge of Kratom, and nutritional supplements. In addition to attending medical webinars and conferences, she loves to write research-based articles for magazines, healthcare professionals, and medical agencies. Jennifer is always looking to develop her knowledge for the Kratom through scientific researches and frequently asked questions of customers looking to buy kratom from reliable sources.
